Regretting the Wife He Threw Away novel Chapter 689

The deeper Briony read, the tighter her brow furrowed.

Across the table, Xenia Cooper never took her eyes off Briony, studying every flicker of emotion, every subtle shift in her expression. She watched in silence for a full five minutes.

At last, Briony set the agreement down and lifted her gaze.

Their eyes met.

Xenia looked thoroughly satisfied with Briony’s shock.

“Have you finished reading?” she asked, her tone edged with amusement.

Briony’s voice was taut. “So—it was your bone marrow that saved my life.”

Xenia arched an eyebrow. “That’s right. Technically speaking, I’m your savior.”

Briony’s grip on the contract tightened.

“But Stewart repaid your debt for you, in his own way,” Xenia taunted, a sly smile curling her lips. “Tell me, Briony—are you moved?”

Briony couldn’t answer. She could never have imagined that the second chance at life she’d been given had come at such a cost—a cost Stewart had paid in this way.

The contract spelled it out, in black and white—not just a ten-year marriage between Stewart and Xenia, but also an obligation: over three years, Stewart was to remove every person in the company who stood against Xenia. In return, Xenia would swallow up all the shares of Neonova Syndicate in those three years.

Xenia hadn’t wasted a single word in the contract—her business acumen was on full display. It was ruthless, prioritizing profit above all else.

The harshest clause? For the duration of their decade-long marriage, Stewart had to remain completely faithful. No betrayals, no infidelities, and no matter what Xenia did, Stewart was forbidden from requesting a divorce.

Briony remembered that day Stewart had fallen silent. She’d sensed he was hiding something—now she understood just how different the truth was from what she’d suspected.

This contract hemmed Stewart in on all sides. The restrictions were suffocating, the risks enormous.

Briony drew a steadying breath, trying to calm the storm of emotions within her. “Does Stewart know you’re here talking to me?”

“Stewart would rather you never found out,” Xenia replied, looking at Briony with open disdain. “He worries you’d feel guilty, wants to play the selfless hero. So no, he doesn’t know I’m meeting you today. But don’t worry—I’ll tell him all about it when I get home.”

“Why tell me, then?” Briony asked quietly.

“Why?” Xenia let out a short, derisive laugh. “Because I can’t stand it. You two are divorced, sure, and you gave him two kids—but Stewart bending over backwards for an ex-wife? It grates on me. Honestly, I envy you.”

She stood, gathering the contract. “Anyway, that’s all there is to it. You can go to Stewart if you want, but it won’t change anything. For the next ten years, he’s mine.”

Briony said nothing.

Xenia swept out of the café, leaving only the gentle strains of piano music drifting through the air.

Briony remained seated, unmoving, long after Xenia had gone.

Dusk settled outside, painting the windows in deep blue shadows.

Suddenly, footsteps hurried across the floor.

Stewart appeared, breathless.

“Bryn…”

Hearing his voice, Briony slowly looked up.

He stood there, worry etched deep in his features, his dark eyes fixed on her. “Bryn, are you all right?”